Simple Skincare.

Have you seen the Simple Skincare line up of products? I have seen it more than a few times on an end cap or display at Target and just had to find out what it was all about. Now I have the details and I want to share it with you.

Simple Skincare is a no-fuss no-muss lineup of fresh, skin care products. Made for even the most sensitive of skins, these products believe that simple is best. All the products in the range contain no dyes, artificial perfumes, or harsh irritants that can upset skin. The products contain only the purest possible skin loving ingredients with added vitamins, for naturally healthy-looking skin. They are free of all artificial dyes and fragrances, and are all dermatologist tested, noncomedogenic, and hypoallergenic.  Even the eye care products are safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Skin care doesn't have to be difficult, especially for difficult skin.

The product range contains cleansers, wipes, moisturizers and eye care products.

Cleansers

• Smoothing Facial Scrub
• Moisturizing Facial Wash
• Refreshing Facial Wash Gel
• Soothing Facial Toner

Wipes

• Cleansing Facial Wipes
• Exfoliating Facial Wipes

Moisturizers

• Vital Vitamin Day Cream SPF 15
• Replenishing Rich Moisturizer
• Hydrating Light Moisturizer
• Vital Vitamin Night Cream

Eye Care

• Eye Makeup Remover
• Revitalizing Eye Roll-On
• Soothing Eye Balm

The products range in price from $4.99 - $9.99.

I'll be the first to admit that I adore luxury skin care. My serums and night creams usually cost upward of $150 each. I am a skincare snob. I thought this line would be great for someone like my daughter just starting out with skin care. After a recent skin freakout where my skin was super itchy and sensitive, I realized I was out of my long time favorite skin soother. I thought this would be the perfect time to finally try a few of these "simple" products. I don't think I can tell you how impressed I am. From the Moisturizing Facial Wash that I used (that removed every trace of makeup and never had my skin feeling stripped) to the Replenishing Rich Moisturizer and Revitalizing Eye Roll-On, my skin was back to normal and feeling better than ever in just a matter of days. The fact that my skin looked and felt so good, at a fraction of the price, made me adore Simple Skincare even more. I could buy every product in the line and still have change to spare when comparing it to just my favorite eye cream.

Next time you are in Target or your other favorite mass merchandiser, take a look at the Simple Skincare line up. For less than $10, pick up a new product and try it. I know you will be impressed! To get all the latest Simple Skincare news and even coupons, be sure to check out their Simple Skincare Facebook page.

bareMinerals READY Foundation: My Holy Grail?

I've been on a foundation kick lately. Not that I have been looking for a new foundation, there just seems to have been a lot of foundation launches over the last few months. The new bareMinerals READY Foundation SPF 20 was one of them and I couldn't wait to try it.

I should preface this by saying that I am reactive to the bareMinerals Original Foundation. It makes me red and itchy. I have never figured out exactly why it makes me so reactive to it. I am usually not so overly sensitive to makeup at all. This being a cold pressed powder version, I was hoping it wouldn't have a problem. I've been using the READY Bronzer all summer and never had a reaction, so I was hopeful and didn't hesitate.

I was sent the new foundation in Medium Beige. It looks very dark in the pan, but was actually too light on my skin. What's with me lately? I must be darker than I think! Anyway, I was sent the Precision Face Brush to apply the foundation with, but wasn't sure exactly how. I did a quick search to find a QVC video with bareMinerals expert Jessica Foust.

So I basically followed her method. I tap the brush into the powder four times and then buff it onto my skin with very long strokes as she demonstrated. I only have to do the tap and buff twice as my face is flawlessly covered and glowing. The brush is essential. It applies the powder so effortlessly. The coverage is amazing. My pores were gone. My skin looked more even and more luminous than it had in a very long time. Now, if only the color were right. So I went to Sephora and got color matched with Golden Medium, which looked like it was a match in the store. It wasn't until I got home that I found that shade still too light and too yellow on me. I returned it and headed over to the Bare Escentuals store, which I didn't even know existed in the mall near my home. There, I got help (and for my sister and bff too!) and settled on Medium Tan, which looks crazy dark, but was a great match for me right now. I am guessing that the Medium Beige will look great on my skin come December.

I tested READY Foundation over moisturizer and two different primers, NARS Pro-Prime and Smashbox Hydrating Primer. It looked beautiful and lasted all day with a full makeup look, no matter which way I wore it. It is amazing. My holy grail foundation.

Until... two weeks into it, I woke up with my face more pink and a bit itchy. I thought that maybe my skin was reacting to the cooler temps. Or maybe I tried something new that I was having a reaction to. I immediately couldn't think of anything. But after I applied the foundation a bit later that morning, I immediately got the bad sunburn, itchy red feeling. It was on my face, a bit on my ears and right beneath my jawline. Anywhere the powder or brush touched. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it.  I did not wash it off right away and thought I would get over it.  I didn't. It got worse.  I removed the makeup and didn't wear any makeup for three days until my skin calmed down and returned to normal. A glutton for punishment I guess, I tried it again.  I was determined to wear this amazing foundation. I wanted it to work for me.  Again, within minutes of applying, my skin got very red and started this burning/itching feeling again. I am confident that this is a reaction to the foundation. I don't know why it took about two weeks into wearing it to show up. I am completely disappointed - not in the foundation - in my damn skin.

Everyone that I have turned onto READY Foundation loves it and no one else has had issues with it. My daughter uses it and loves it. My sister and sister-in-law use it and love it.  Two really good freinds have already started using it and have told others about it. That is how much I like it. I told everyone about READY Foundation because everyone was noticing how great my makeup looked.

I don't want to deter anyone from trying this. It's that good. I don't want my reactive skin to be negative, I have to deal with it; you don't. If you have never been reactive to mineral makeup, try it. I promise you will love it. If you are sensitive, proceed with caution and look for irritation signs.

I do want to let you know that bareMinerals READY Foundation has an SPF of 20, and comes in a range of 20 shades. The makeup artist at the Bare Escentuals store said that most customers were going one shade deeper than they would as compared to the the original foundation. It sells for $29.00. The Precision Face Brush sells for $28.00 and is a must have to apply the foundation.

If you've tried the foundation, please let me know how it has worked for you.

Sponsored: My Mary Kay Fall Look.

I had a wedding to go to a few weeks ago, and I wore the Mary Kay® makeup look that I told you about last month.  The makeup was perfect for the warm fall day. It was a nice compliment to the navy dress I wore.  Please forgive the blurry iPhone picture.

As I described in the video and in the previous post, a pop of color on the cheeks and lips are a trend for fall. The strong berry lip and cheek that I wore with some beautiful shades from the Mary Kay® line were perfect. My makeup pretty much lasted all night, except for having to re-do my lips after drinking some bubbly.

Of course some of my friends asked me what Lip Gloss I was wearing, and I proudly told them it was Mary Kay® Nourishine Plus® Lip Gloss in the color Pink Luster. A few of them were surprised that it was Mary Kay. I am not sure why, but I think it was because they know I have very expensive taste and would have expected me to be wearing a $35 lipgloss, and not one that cost so much less.  I told them it’s all about quality, coverage and color for me. The Mary Kay® Nourishine Plus® Lip Gloss fit the bill and simply made me feel glamorous.

If you would like a little bit of your own glamour, and who doesn’t, then you need to check out the Mary Kay® Hollywood Dreams Makeover Contest that is happening right now. You could win a trip to Los Angeles, a professional makeover, personal stylist consultation and wardrobe. All you have to do is visit marykay.com to locate your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, schedule your makeover and enter to win!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mary Kay. The opinions and text are all mine.

Update on November 27, 2012 by Teri Cosenzi, Editor

Congratulations to the following winners that have been notified today:

Amy
Buddy
Candie
Heather
Kathleen
Soos
Susan
Tamar
Tia
Valerie